Add Warmth to Any Room with Free Standing Indoor Fireplaces

Free standing indoor fireplaces can be defined as not being built within an existing structure like a home. Also known as sometimes as freestanding stoves, they come in many shapes and forms and also employ a variety of heat sources. Gas or electric models are the most popular. However, there are also free standing indoor fireplaces that use wood, gel fuel, coal and pellets. It is a matter of what type of space you are working with as well as your heat course preferences.
Thanks to today's technology, you can choose amongst a large variety of colors, styles and materials. Do you want a country look? There are cast iron styles with pot-belly shapes. Do you have an Art Deco or contemporary design theme? Sleek stainless steel models with glass doors might be more suited to your tastes. There are also some that have enameled porcelain finishes and European models that are made with soapstone.
Free standing indoor fireplaces that use gas or burn wood will need to be vented through a chimney made of metal. Typically these types of fireplace models have to be installed near an exterior wall or close to an area where the building's roof is accessible. The venting from the metal chimney has to go through one of these areas. If you are in a condo or apartment, please check with your landlord as to the rules and regulations for this addition.
Some gas models do have options which vent naturally as well as have direct venting or no venting at all. Some require the metal chimney and some do not. In addition, you can find models that fit into a corner. This is a great option if you are pressed for space and the corner is not usable for anything else.
Pellet stoves are an excellent choice for free standing indoor fireplaces. They burn clean and can be vented in a either up and down or sideways. They come in a variety of styles with the cast iron being the most popular. Another environmentally friendly option that is portable burns cleanly with a type of gel fuel.
To be safe, these free standing indoor fireplaces should be installed on top of a hearth pad. What this means is that these fireplaces need a nonflammable base to rest on. This could be bare concrete, a brick surface or even stone tile. Steel and glass are options as well. Check with the manufacturer's instructions and find out the required distance the fireplaces should be from the walls and other combustible areas.
If you are keen on purchasing one of the free standing indoor fireplaces on the market today, be sure to do your homework. Take measurements of the room where you would like the fireplace. Talk with your landlord and a building inspector about the requirement for safe installation. Most of all, decide which heat source would work best for your lifestyle and accommodations.